The Briar Patch

 

Here are 10 things you could force me to do, and I would not fight you:

1. Drink a second cup of coffee.
2. Read a book before I could eat dinner.
3. Listen to my children sing.
4. Organize a desk.
5. Snuggle with Matt under a blanket in front of the fireplace.
6. Fold towels.
7. Spend three hours in Barnes and Noble.
8. Take notes on a sermon.
9. Sit on my parents’ front porch on a summer evening.
10. Eat a Twin Bing with a tall glass of milk.

“Roast me! Hang me! Do whatever you please,” said Brer Rabbit. “Only please, Brer Fox, please don’t throw me into the briar patch.”

Please not a second cup of coffee!  (wink, wink)

As my husband is preaching with powerful solemnity from James 4:7 (NIV), Submit yourselves, then, to God, I cower in my seat a bit. Submit in humility or face the opposition of God, says James.

But then I glance up to the verse before it and see the word GRACE. “But he gives us more grace.” (James 4:6  NIV)

Throw me into that briar patch.

What is it we are submitting ourselves to when we submit ourselves to God? GRACE. We come humbly to the cross of Christ and receive forgiveness and removal of sin and blamelessness. But Satan whispers in the ear, You are worthless. You are sinful. You are unforgiveable. The Fox!

“The briar patch, eh?” said Brer Fox. “What a wonderful idea. You will be torn into little pieces!”

Yes, throw me into the briar patch of grace, Brer Fox. (wink, wink)

We are hurled into the hands of God by the one who wishes to destroy us, and then he hears singing…

“Born and bred in the briar patch,” said Brer Rabbit.

And Brer Rabbit skipped away as merry as a cricket while Brer Fox ground his teeth in rage and went home.

“Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” (James 4:7  NIV)

We sing, Born and bred in grace! Born and bred in grace!

Let the Fox grind his teeth and go home.